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Marouane Fellaini

VIDEO: Fellaini in action against West Brom

March 9, 2014

Scott is the editor of RoM and has a season ticket at Old Trafford. He started The Republik of Mancunia in March 2006. Follow @R_o_M on Twitter or @R_o_M7 on Instagram.

Moyes singles out Rafael for praise

Most Memorable Manchester Derbies

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Eric Nesh March 10, 2014

who told Shitty...its just any club that does win a treble!........quadruple my ass!

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Fletch™ March 10, 2014

Quadruple? Think one of my City mates was going on about 5?! I just start to sing loudly and push on ;)

Love this little BIO on the ESPN City page:

"Formed: 1880
Admitted to Football League: 1892
Manchester City's history can be summed up by one statistic: they are the only English champions to be relegated the following season. It is an apt reflection of a club who have lurched violently between the sublime and the ridiculous, and who have often seemed to have tragicomedy in their genes."

:lol:

ESPN taking the p*ss :lol:

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adam leszczak March 10, 2014

Well done Wigan!
It looks like Wegner will finally get the no trophy monkey of his back.

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The_red_devils March 10, 2014

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/mar/10/toni-kroos-open-to-manchester-united-move-bayern-munich-champions-league

kroos is probably using united to get better contract...

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Dan Young March 10, 2014

i think some people are being a bit too over critical. we did 30 crosses yesterday and considering how much we dominated the game the game thats not many. also 5 of those crosses came from corners and 10 came from rafael, evra and januzaj .. the 3 players that are set up to make width and get the ball in the box to create chances. when they did cross we had more then just the 1 player in the box like against fulham and if west brom did clear the ball there was a fellaini or a carrick at the end of it to build up play again. also the corner stats arent too accurate, you would expect rvp's reekick that set phil jones up was aparently a corner and when mata hits a long ball into the box from a deep position thats supposedly a corner aswell, so its not just run to the byline and hit and hope. i wanted moyes gone this summer and klopp taking over but if he keeps playing under that system with those dynamic players then he has earnt this transfer window and next season (depending on results and performances) from me anyway.

fellaini was the best player on the pitch and one of the fastest, anyone that says he is slow is just looking at fifa stats and not looking at him actually play. there was a moment when fellaini was on the edge of their box and they broke on a counter attack wth mulumbu on the ball about 25/30 yards ahead of him, by the time mulumbu got to within 10 yards of our box fellaini was putting a foot in trying to get the ball back.

also worth mentioning we definitely wernt playing the 442. we was playing more of a 4-1-5 which is great for everyone .. except for rvp. the good points about this system is anyone can score in that front 5 and we dont necessarily depend on a player, however it means the attacking players have to take chances and get into that box when we get an oportunity rather then worry about tracking their man IF the opposition counter attacks. smalling, jones and evans are quick enough to cover at the back.

i agree though, de gea - rafael - smalling - jones - evra - carrick - fellaini - januzaj - kagawa - mata - rooney would be a geat statement by moyes to play against liverpool, chances are we will have rvp playing though which is definitely not a poblem .. hopefully we wont see young or valencia though

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Blacksocks March 10, 2014

I'll second that - no Young and Valencia please!

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samuel - united WE stand March 10, 2014

Like I said, tougher test are to come , mulumbu and yacob are hardly the basis to analyse fellaini's mobility across the ground, it will be against better and sharper central midfielders.. I have watched fellaini play long enough and also did against westbrom, we can all interpret whatever we see but the woefully inaccurate assumption that people don't watch him play is baffling.. He had a decent game, he did well enough but it wasn't a spectacular display that somehow erases the concerns that he won't be out-played by better players (and even if it had been spectacular, he would have to be doing consistently at a prolong period).. It has happened before and it will again.. I don't think he'll be a starter in terms of where united want to reach.. He is a good decent squad player, I think better players in that role will improve united further.

Looking at william carvalho and some others, that's the type I can see starting regularly and being key players against better footballers. United lack dynamism and drive, that authoritative player that can control games with passing, tactical awareness and their impetus.. The team is still incomplete in thatd sense, united are not as sharp as I can imagine them and that issue lies in the central mid.. Hopefully those concerns will vanish soon.

I think fellaini can get about the pitch, that's not the issue.. If he couldn't, he wouldn't be a footballer but I think he still lacks that extra something to be a crucial part of what united require. secondly, issues that fellaini lacks discipline and awareness can be added to the concerns...

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Tommy March 10, 2014

@WilliamAR

"I thought Fellaini was lucky to stay on after the stud scrape down the west brom players thigh" he made an attempt to play the ball, its a mans game, If we are sending players off for that then we are really strugling, You must want football becoming a non contact sport

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Eric Nesh March 10, 2014

@ Samuel...I personally think he has what it takes to be an important member of our team. he not as bad as people have mad him look.

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RedOne March 10, 2014

Like said in one of the previous threads, it was time for a win and we delivered it=)

I was just hoping to see same lineup as against Crystal palace and Moyes didn`t disappoint. He must have known what a mistake he made in CL to change this team who showed glimpses of good football in the weekend. So yeah, Jones was brought instead of Vida and think this was the only change from that game.

Moyes really needs to keep this selection from now on. We had little struggle in the back early on, but Jones and Smalling kept it calm and didn`t let to be bullied by Anichebe & company. Well done...

Fellaini and Carrick also played very well. Although we lacked a bit of pace from them, it wasn`t a real problem as they at least moved the ball forward. They also helped the back line and were very disciplined in coming back. Fellaini also moved forward which is great and well protected the ball with his strength. The opposition players just bounced away from him=) All he needs to do is to contain this form and work on quicker shooting, because his lag before he shoots enables the opposition to come and block it.

Expected bit more from RVP though. He tried, but all he wanted to do didn`t work out and came very close to be sent off. Mata also wasn`t himself today but it really doesn`t affect his game much. For instance like seen in AV when he is not on form. Januzaj wasn`t as much active as he could be but he`s still young so no worries.

Only one thing Moyes could do and he did for a short time was when Kagawa was brought on, with Rooney they switched positions, but only for 5 min. Think it would be better if they were told to switch them to test the tactics for a longer period after a 2:0 lead. Kagawa on the center, Rooney on the left so he could shoot with his right foot and Mata on the right shooting with left foot and more narrow line from these three towards goal would be a nice thing to check out how it works.

Welbs also did well, finally keeping his composure and scored. But these sort of situations are kind of easy for him when he has to just flick the ball. Shooting with power is his problem.

The defensive line also did great, even Evra tracked back and didnt leave his position. Impressive=)
And DDG as usual did his job and made it look easy to be a goalkeeper for spectators.

So yeah, if we keep this lineup and tactics against the loserfools, i think we can do it. But will have to worry about his counters as Fellaini and Carrick aren`t fast enough to track Suarez, Sturridge, Coutinho and Sterling back in time and this is a worry. They play strong def and very fast counter. Hope we score first and then we play their tactics. Just my thoughts.

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Tommy March 10, 2014

@Fletch

Disagree totally with your hes far from 1st choice comment, Whether you like him or not, his last 2 performances have been great, hes the man in form, lets look at the othet contenders, Carrick - Having a poor season, injuries havnt helped, Fletcher - Commendable for fighting his illness, but he is way past his best and will not be starting many games, Jones - centre half, Giggs - 40 year old who will surely be hanging up his boots after a great career, Cleverley - the less said about him the better, so out of these lot, he surely has to be first choice from now unti may.

@Samuel

You need to look up what mobility means, It does not matter who the opposition are, if you move around the pitch more than any player on it in the top flight then you DO NOT lack mobility, that has nothing to do with who the opposition is

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samuel - united WE stand March 10, 2014

Nesh - what levels of top consistent performances in central mid over the years has fellaini put in to give you the idea he will be an important member?.. "He is not bad" well that's the point, i've not made him to be bad but he is not brilliant either, I certainly think united would need investment.. Fellaini at best would be a squad player.

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UnitedFaithful March 10, 2014

Fellaini had a good game,I just want to see how he performs against teams who pass the ball more quickly and against pacy attackers where he won't have the freedom to push up forward,his involvement against Pool will go a long way to determine if Moyes sees him as a main cog in our midfield esp when our other midfielders haven't done enough to justify a starting spot.

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Tommy March 10, 2014

@Eric Nesh

Pointless arguing with him mate, I give him stats from 2 years ago when he played in midfield about winning the most tackles and intercepting the most out of any midfielder in the league for a season and he wouldnt have it, I also pointed out for the last 10 games last season Fellani dropped back in midfield and their number of clean sheets Everton had in that time was good compared to when he was further up the pitch, again samual wouldnt have it, just as coinincidence theirs been 2 clean sheets last 2 league games with Fellani in midfield?

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samuel - united WE stand March 10, 2014

Tommy - i'm pretty certain I know what mobility is and like I said fellaini can get about the pitch.. Just like crouch, these players wouldn't play if they can't get about the pitch but like I said, i'm looking towards the bigger picture and I don't think he is sharp/dynamic enough to make consistent impact, he still lacks that something extra.. Does it make him a terrible player? well no it doesn't but my view is, an upgrade is still needed in that area.. The concerns over him have not erased and it is not only mobility either.

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Tommy March 10, 2014

@Samuel

Crouch wouldnt have statistics were hes moved more than any player on the pitch, If he can run more than anyone on that pitch and he lacks mobility then god help the other 21 players on the pitch, they must all move in slow mo then, simple as that, your just annoyed that the stats and performances in the last 2 games are making your "lack of mobility" comment looking very silly indeed, You refused to except that back and wrist injuries contributed to his movement, I dont need stats to show me hes moving better now, my eyesight and anyone who seen his last 2 games can see hes moving better, whether yhou like it or not

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swaggersho March 10, 2014

Anyone saw how smalling recovered and made that challenge on Anichebe when it seems he was thru on goal? Imagine if Anichebe had turned Rio like that? Smalling = Top class CB!!!

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Fletch™ March 10, 2014

Tommy, Just not a Fellaini fan. Couple games agains relegation fodder are wonderful ofcourse. But the play is EXACTLY the same as what got him red carded in the CL. For Everton, you can get away with bull in china shop tactics. Unfortunately, United never seem to get away with it (Nani/Fellaini Reds the most recent examples).
If Fellaini was bought for the games v WBA and Stoke, then yes, I do get it....... just.

But he has a very very long way to go to up his game to something that would ever survive 90 minutes in a CL semifinal or final.

That isn't to say he doesn't have his moments. It isn't to say that he's not a young intelligent player who will improve under United coaching.... BUT WAIT. All the "United coaches" moved on. And Fellaini just has Everton coaches to mold him.

End of the day, I back him because he is out player. But I'll keep my own definitions of what amounts to a 1st choice player. Cheers

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Tommy March 10, 2014

@Fletch

We are talking at the moment tho mate and at the moment hes our best performing midfielder which makes him 1st choice, irrespective of them being relegation fodder or not, What happened when chelsea, and arsenal and liverpool went to west brom? West Brom managed to get something so just because they are a team struggling does not make them an easy match at all, infact teams fighting for their lives can be the hardest to beat

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Fletch™ March 10, 2014

Swaggersho. Cheers son. I am a Smalling fan as well. But only at CB. These previous games with him at RB have shown that we need more depth at RB.

What I noticed most about WBA was the play of Rafael and our back 4.
Still not convinced that Jones is tall enough to be a 1st choice CB. But he was definately good enough for WBA. For me, Evans and Smalling are the future 1st choice CBs If we don't add this summer. Jones has proved that he is an able back up.

Really would love to be a fly on the wall to understand what Fergie and Moyes plan for Jones is. Plays so many games at DM that you have to wonder.

I agree with those who say that CB is Jones best position. Just like to point out that our last 6'0" 1st choice CB was a certain Steve Bruce. Wes Brown was 6'1" and the next smallest. We will see.

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Tommy March 10, 2014

@Fletch

I would also say some fauls given against him are njust plain wrong, their was 1 towards the end of the first half when the west brom player did not even attempt to jump, fellani jumps wins the header and the ref blows for a foul, Rediculous really

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Tommy March 10, 2014

@Fletch

Jones is a CB and will be first choice for years to come, Canavarro, one of the best defenders in modern times was not the tallest either mate

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Fletch™ March 10, 2014

Tommy, Cheers, I get your point, ofcourse, but don't have to like it.

Just here to say that I am a "Prime Beef" man.

I know Prime when I see it.
I know pot roast when I see it as well.

With Fellaini for me, just like others are asking about the entire MF, I just continue to ask
Where's the beef?!

With Fellaini, we sure paid for Prime. Just not sure we got it. Happy to give him a couple years. But I'll not be expecting much more than gristle till he manages to stay on the pitch for run of top European games. This is his weakness for me, nothing else is "THAT" bad. Plenty to build on I guess. We will see.

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Tommy March 10, 2014

@Fletch

Fair enough mate, I just feel that many on here are quick to write him off without giving the lad a fair chance, his performances in the last 2 games in the league deserve to keep his place esp with the rest of the midfield struggling, Just my thoughts tho

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Fletch™ March 10, 2014

Tommy, When "EXACTLY" did Canavarro play in England? No need to reply. I know the answer. Gods the Footy manager mentality.

Pujol as well. Good in europe, never got an offer from any top 4 english sides. There is a reason.

Agree to disagree if you like. I practically guarantee you Canavarro or Pujol never makes Chelsea, United, or City's 1st choice.

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ashtheking March 10, 2014

Samuel

You and your personal vendetta against Felliaini continues. Not surprised at all. I know you are a true supporter but still mate you need to give the lad chance to prove. The criticism he has been getting is baffling. Even in the start of the season he wasn't that bad like many say. He had those injuries and yet he did ok, against WBA he was really good and for those who are saying WBA are a weak side, seriously theft wrestle side who did really well against Liverpool , Chelsea,arsenal and even against us. So they are no way weak. Yes Felliaini has to consistently perform like this but for that he needs to be played on a regular basis. I still believe Felliaini will be a crucial player for us in coming years.

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Timothy Peng March 10, 2014

Fletch - Vidal, Kroos and Carvalho would then be filet mignon?

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ashtheking March 10, 2014

They were the side who did well against Liverpool and others.

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Tommy March 10, 2014

@Fletch

I fail to see your point, How do you know they failed to receive offers mate? Why woujld Puyol leave Barca when hes winning everything going? Im sure if a "top 4" club in England goes for Demichelis and Savic then they would have been interested in Puyol and Cannavarro. Puyol at 36 is better than Demichelis, yet hes citites 1st choice

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Dan Young March 10, 2014

i just read back over my last comment and basically everytime i wrote corner i meant cross. have no idea what went on there

yeah smalling is a great centre back, his best asset is how under rated he is. hes going to be one of the best in the world when he gets into his prime. people are saying about replacements for vidic but as it stands this season we have 5 players that can play centre back and michael keane that could realistically play against lesser opposition to get experience making it 6 centre backs. thats a ridiculous amount and causes alot of 'shakey play' cause you never have a settled pairing as they all warrant a start. having 4 is what we should be looking for and with vida and ferdinand going then we now have 4 centre backs going for 2 positions which is healthy competition. i would like to see mangala coming in but we shouldnt move for him unless we sell one of either jones, smalling, evans or keane. people have very short memories, smallings first season lead to comparisons with rio and was said to be our future captain. then jones came in and jones got comparisons to john terry and vidic and was seen as the future england and united captain. now people want us to bring in players to partner jones at the back and completely forget about what smalling has to offer whilst still improving. jones and smalling have pace, strength, great tackling ability, are both very young with huge potential and are english.

fletch i remember you talking last season about jones' height. i really dont see it as an issue cause the guys a beast. alot of play nowadays is from passing play rather then crossing, not only that but he also has a 6'4 smalling that is available to mark any tall attacking players. then if its a corner we have players like fellaini, smalling carrick and maybe soon william carvalho that contribute to defensive headers.

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Tommy March 10, 2014

@Fletch

Your points also insinuating that if a team in the english top flight does not buy a defender then that defenders no good, yet we will see how many defenders make the champions league team of the year from England, and we will see how many PL defenders make the team of the year in the WC, Like Roy Keane said PL best brand in the world, but qualityh wise its lacking compared to others, thats why the English sides struggle in europe

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gra mar March 10, 2014

@Fletch.....Puyol never got offers because he would never leave. United received no offers for Scholes either for the same reason.

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Fletch™ March 10, 2014

Tommy, not at all. Not anywhere close to my view.

I could toss i back at you. YOUR comments suggest that you DON"T understand that there are differences between leagues.

Why insult my intelligence.

Couple years back, we were out looking at keepers.
People kept saying we should go for Casillas or several other 6'0" keepers. Top man Casillas. But there is a reason he would never have been asked by United.

The arial threat in England is completely different than in Spain or Italy.
Keepers need to be 6'3+ to really see over their CBs.
Many CB's are 6'2"+

United haven't had a 1st choice CB Under 6'1" since Bruce in the 90's
United haven't had a 1st choice GK Under 6'3" since Barthez in the early 00's

Look at the top 4 in the league. Jones isn't going to size up with Chelsea, City, Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal, Stoke, Newcastle CB's for corners or set pieces.

It might not be in your thinking. But history proved it was in Fergies thinking. The fact that Smalling gets put at RB, even when Rafael is fit, shows that Moyes is a fan of height for certain games.

No need to agree or disagree now. Let's talk in 2 years. We can compare size of CBs and league position. Not much point in it right now.

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Fletch™ March 10, 2014

gra mar. YOu must be having me on son. Scholes received several offers. Milan being one that was very well publicized.

Agree he wouldn't leave. But It's not because there weren't multiple offers or interest.

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Tommy March 10, 2014

@Fletch

Dont get me wrong im not insulting your intelligence mate, and I agree on height but I think its more the fact that your rarely see small defenders than just picking tall defenders. Puyol and Cannavarro would have done well in England, probably happy were they were tho and theirs no saying they werent offereed deals theirs a lot of defenders in top 4 clubs in England that werent in either Puyol or Cannavarros class. I do agree on height for certain games, It goes in the entire team not just the defence, I remember a match against Bolton at OT a couple of years back, Bolton were causing United all kinds of problems from set pieces and what did SAF do, he took off Hernandez for Berba for Berbas height at set pieces, so I get your point, but I still think the 2 defenders mentioned would have did fine in England, had they come here

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Fletch™ March 10, 2014

Official: Footy manager has taken over ROM ! 8O

I'm off you lovelies! :lol:

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Dan Young March 10, 2014

fletch you love a debate about height.

city v barcelona

javier mascherano (5'9) went up against negredo (6'1), one of the best headers of the ball in the premier league. negredo was playing against manchester city who are one of the highest crossers of the ball this season in the premier league. city didnt score a goal. jones' height does not matter cause he has power and a 6'4 chris smalling to cover his back

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Tommy March 10, 2014

@Dan Young

Exactly mate, Canavarro was always good at digging his elbows into you, which they always seem to get away with so it stoped the taller attackers getting a decent contact on the ball when going for a header, the more Jones plays their the wiser he will become at the dirty tricks, plus footballs changed in England, more teams are playing the ball on the ground rather than launching it long, Height wont be a problem

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Tommy March 10, 2014

Interesting that before they beat us, Olympiakos were unbeaten in the league, since they have beaten us they have lost their last 2, they are still 16 points clear with 6 games to go in Greece tho

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Fletch™ March 10, 2014

OK, one more, then I'm really off.

Dan Young,
CL (and intl footy) IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN ENGLISH LEAGUE.

Only reason Fellaini was on the pitch in the second half yesterday was because it was a league game.
Spain, Italy and Europe have been taken over by very technical players.

As Tommy points out, It's the Bolton's in January that define size.

United builds to win out league. Reason we have been so successful the last 8 years is down to very strong/tall/ and fast CBs.

Same may not be true in Europe, I agree with you there as well. But you don't get to europe without solving the League top 4 lottery.

IN ENGLAND. Size still matters! :twisted:

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Dan Young March 10, 2014

fletch theres no doubt size matters, mascherano would not survive at centre back for a season. but phil jones is 6 foot 2 .. 2 inches shorter then smalling and fellaini and the same height as mangala and vidic

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Tommy March 10, 2014

@Fletch

"Only reason Fellaini was on the pitch in the second half yesterday was because it was a league game"

Incredibly harsh considering he was one of our better players yesterday, infact hes the only midfielder we have that can move with the ball, and considering Cleverley gets regular game time in europe and Fellani is considerably better than him, I would be shocked if he wasnt starting against Olympiakos

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DeGeaWeTrust March 10, 2014

Tommy - football practically has become a none contact sport, does anyone need reminding on what happened in the Madrid game at OT last year

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Fletch™ March 10, 2014

Dan Young, Phil Jones is 6'0"

Only one site puts him at 6'2" and it is wrong.

League and size matters:

It is not a surprise that Liverpool is sorting out their defense:
PAST:
Jamie Carragher 6'1" Never won the league (your basic Puyol type player)
At Liverpool, Javier Macherano 5'9" was a MF, At barca he is a CB.

CURRENT:
Liverpool are fielding:
Martin Skrtel 6' 4'' (1.93m)
Daniel Agger 6' 2'' (1.88m)
Kolo Touré 6'0'' shipped off by Arsenal now 2nd choice.

At Barca, they have fielded
Javier Macherano 5'9" paired with Pujol 5'10" and made it work for 2 years.

In England, size matters. In europe, referee decisions and tactics of a knock out competition COMPLETLY CHANGE THE EQUATION.

Right. I really am off.
Check back later to sort you sort lot out! ;) And I mean that with deepest respect :lol:

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DeGeaWeTrust March 10, 2014

Fletch - look at bartez, a huge player for france, and outstanding for monaco, he comes to united, and he struggled so much, even in his first season he had some bizarre moments

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Maltamanc March 10, 2014

Hope he can keep his current form.... Great game by Fellaini.... Also looks like Welbeck is improving and smalling is decent when he plays CB..... This has to be our starting XI with the likes of Kagawa coming in... The sheer difference when Clevzzzz, Tony V and Young don't play is clearly visible.

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Dan Young March 10, 2014

okay fletch when you come back please use a better example of a defence that is better then liverpools please, they are like a comedy show lately when they are defending.

also theres alot more then just 1 website saying hes 6ft 2. all the ones saying from 5'`11

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Dan Young March 10, 2014

okay fletch when you come back please use a better example of a defence that is better then liverpools please, they are like a comedy show lately when they are defending.

also theres alot more then just 1 website saying hes 6ft 2. all the ones saying from 5'`11 to 6ft1 are from years ago when he came to united. he has grown since, like most 19/20 year olds would

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Tommy March 10, 2014

@Dan Young

I think footballs also changed now, Gone are the days where 12/13 of the sides would be putting in long balls into the box, Now more teams are trying to play football even those at the bottom, so size is not a problem, Jones will be our best centre half, Evans will be no more than a squad player, hes just not progressed as we would have hoped, Id like an experienced player brought in to help out Jones/Smalling with their development

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Timothy Peng March 10, 2014

In Phil Jones' case, I'm not concerned with his lack of height. That's because I'm convinced that he'd out run, out move, out hustle, out muscle and out will most opponents who have a few inches on him in most cases.